2018 MLB Season

celticdb15

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Harper with another homer!
 

DixieDestroyer

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TomIron361

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For the most part, I think all outdoor sports are in danger nowadays as this new way of living progresses. at some point, they will not get enough people to come and watch a game they never played. Most young people just stay indoors anymore. The outside physical world surrounding them doesn't interest them.
 
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Trout hits a dinger today, #6 which I believe leads the AL

I don't follow the Braves but just checked their box score.

I'm impressed (and surprised) with how white-friendly they appear to be:


2B - Albies (black)
SS - Former #1 Pick Dansby Swanson (white)
1B - Freeman (white)
C - Suzuki (take a wild guess)
RF - Markakis (white)
LF - Lane Adams (white)
3B- Culberson (white)
CF - Bourjos (white)

They also have 3B Flaherty (White), LF Tucker (white) , CF Inciarte (white?)
 
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A White player at center field or shortstop is worth two at another position.
 

Flint

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I was bragging on the Tigers last year as they had an almost all white line-up going for a while. But whoops, that has all changed. The team is in rebuilding mode. I guess that means every hispanic minor league player with that famous upside gets to play. The Tigers also have returned to the bizarre habit of actually playing American born black players, almost as rare as white NFL receivers.

1B Cabrera
2B Machado
ss Igleasis
3B Candelario
LF Mikie Mahtook (white) sent to the minors, Victor Reyes takes his place.
CF Leonys Martin

Catcher and RF are safe -- for now.
 

Carolina Speed

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Mike Trout leading MLB with 9 homeruns! Also, leading MLB in WAR at 2.1. The next closest player is Johnny Cueto, a pitcher is at 1.7. The next closest position player is the A's, Jed Lowrie at 1.56.
As great as Bryce Harper is, leading the NL in HR's, with 8. He is only at .8 WAR.
Trout's hitting line is, .306, .406, .682.
 

celticdb15

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Blackmon also blasted out his 8th homer the other day! Awesome to see the young talent we have patroling MLB outfields!
 
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Mike Trout had two stolen bases today, bringing his season total up to 5. He hasn't been caught yet this year.
 

Carolina Speed

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Mike Trout leading MLB with 9 homeruns! Also, leading MLB in WAR at 2.1. The next closest player is Johnny Cueto, a pitcher is at 1.7. The next closest position player is the A's, Jed Lowrie at 1.56.
As great as Bryce Harper is, leading the NL in HR's, with 8. He is only at .8 WAR.
Trout's hitting line is, .306, .406, .682.

Trout HR # 10 on his first AB in Houston tonight. He may be going to another level, if that's possible!
 
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celticdb15

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Harper with another homer up to 15!
 

Carolina Speed

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Trout 1-2, with 3BB, 1 R , 1 SB

He racks up the stats even on days he only has 1 total base.

11 SBs on the year so far.

NJ native, Trout the best player in the universe is 3-3, 2D, HR, 3RBI, 2R so far tonight against the Yankees!
I have had the privilege of watching quite possibly the greatest player of all time!
Trout is on track for the greatest WAR season of all time, Ruth 14.1! Trout's pace around 14.4 at this point!
Trout also hit his MLB leading 17th HR!
 
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celticdb15

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NJ native, Trout the best player in the universe is 3-3, 2D, HR, 3RBI, 2R so far tonight against the Yankees!
I have had the privilege of watching quite possibly the greatest player of all time!
Trout is on track for the greatest WAR season of all time, Ruth 14.1! Trout's pace around 14.4 at this point!
Trout also hit his MLB leading 17th HR!

MVP !
 

celticdb15

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Right celticdb15! He's now 5-5 beating out an infield single for his 5th hit. 11 total bases.

He's an incredible talent! Not a bad day at the Diamond!
 

Shadowlight

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Baseball is in full gear now as I gobble it down on a daily basis watching games and usually checking in every night with the MLB network. Usually in a sour mood but not after Mike Trout's magnificent 5-5 performance yesterday at Yankee Stadium. Worth noting on his fifth hit he beat out a grounder using his blazing speed. A true 5 tool player.

Don't want to jinx him (seems like every time I praise a player they start a slump) but it seems like he has recovered from the tough slump he was in. There is no other MLB player I root harder for than Mike Trout so nice to see him have a great day. Here is hoping he continues his HOT streak!!
 

Don Wassall

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There were more strikeouts than hits in April, the first time that's ever happened. That's just one of the reasons I've lost interest in what was easily my favorite sport as a kid -- guys always swinging for the fences no matter the situation. Strike out or hit a home run, that's what "modern" baseball has devolved into.

It used to be an exquisite sport of strategy and subtlety, but that doesn't fit in with today's society what with the ultra-short attention span and dumbed down nature of the masses. The influx of hispanics and the constant pandering to attract more blacks -- having blacks in rough proportion to their percentage of the population is nowhere near good enough for the sport's learned elders -- has also strongly contributed to the loss of fundamentals. Hit to the opposite field to try to move a runner into scoring position, or, godforbid, bunt? Who needs that, just keep wailing away every at-bat, including when it's two strikes and batters used to choke up to increase their chances of making contact.
 

Carolina Speed

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There were more strikeouts than hits in April, the first time that's ever happened. That's just one of the reasons I've lost interest in what was easily my favorite sport as a kid -- guys always swinging for the fences no matter the situation. Strike out or hit a home run, that's what "modern" baseball has devolved into.

It used to be an exquisite sport of strategy and subtlety, but that doesn't fit in with today's society what with the ultra-short attention span and dumbed down nature of the masses. The influx of hispanics and the constant pandering to attract more blacks -- having blacks in rough proportion to their percentage of the population is nowhere near good enough for the sport's learned elders -- has also strongly contributed to the loss of fundamentals. Hit to the opposite field to try to move a runner into scoring position, or, godforbid, bunt? Who needs that, just keep wailing away every at-bat, including when it's two strikes and batters used to choke up to increase their chances of making contact.

Don, all valid points. However, all the more reason to watch a player like Mike Trout. He's definitely a player who does it all with the power to hit home runs too. A few examples, Friday night when the Angels were playing the Yankees during Trout's second at bat, he took an outside pitch to the opposite field. It just happened to go out of the park! Saturday night with two strikes and no balls, Trout chokes up and hits a double to the left field gap. Finally, during the same game, Trout hits a ground ball to the SS and beat it out for an infield hit. Trout is truly a five tool player with hustle that hasn't been seen since Pete Rose! The one thing Trout has not done in his career make a sacrifice bunt.

I understand where you're coming from. I almost turned the game off Saturday because all the talk was about the Yankees, Judge, Stanton, etc. and they even mentioned the Angels Japanese player Ohtani and barely a word about the best player in MLB, Trout. The announcers Jack Buck and John Smoltz even admitted to it after Trout got his third straight hit a HR. Saying, "all we talked about before the game was, Judge, Stanton, the 2b Yankee player who had hit a HR in 4 straight games, etc., but Trout reminded us why he is the best player on the planet. Trout went 5-5, HR, 3D, 3 R, 4RBI, and 11 total bases.

Also, there are many other players in MLB that play the same way Trout does, but they just aren't as good as Trout. Who is? Trout is a once in a lifetime player. Guys like Trea Turner, Charlie Blackmon, AJ Pollock , etc. I could go on. The point is, I believe there's just as much reason or more to watch MLB as there is for watching the NFL.

Don, if you're not watching Trout, you're missing out on something you may never see in your lifetime again! Or for that matter, have ever seen!
BTW, Trout is on pace to become the first 50 HR, 30 steals player ever, (53HR, 35Steals)
He is also on pace for the greatest WAR season ever, at 14.7. Compared the Ruth, 14.1 in 1923.
 

Don Wassall

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Don, all valid points. However, all the more reason to watch a player like Mike Trout. He's definitely a player who does it all with the power to hit home runs too. A few examples, Friday night when the Angels were playing the Yankees during Trout's second at bat, he took an outside pitch to the opposite field. It just happened to go out of the park! Saturday night with two strikes and no balls, Trout chokes up and hits a double to the left field gap. Finally, during the same game, Trout hits a ground ball to the SS and beat it out for an infield hit. Trout is truly a five tool player with hustle that hasn't been seen since Pete Rose! The one thing Trout has not done in his career make a sacrifice bunt.

I understand where you're coming from. I almost turned the game off Saturday because all the talk was about the Yankees, Judge, Stanton, etc. and they even mentioned the Angels Japanese player Ohtani and barely a word about the best player in MLB, Trout. The announcers Jack Buck and John Smoltz even admitted to it after Trout got his third straight hit a HR. Saying, "all we talked about before the game was, Judge, Stanton, the 2b Yankee player who had hit a HR in 4 straight games, etc., but Trout reminded us why he is the best player on the planet. Trout went 5-5, HR, 3D, 3 R, 4RBI, and 11 total bases.

Also, there are many other players in MLB that play the same way Trout does, but they just aren't as good as Trout. Who is? Trout is a once in a lifetime player. Guys like Trea Turner, Charlie Blackmon, AJ Pollock , etc. I could go on. The point is, I believe there's just as much reason or more to watch MLB as there is for watching the NFL.

Don, if you're not watching Trout, you're missing out on something you may never see in your lifetime again! Or for that matter, have ever seen!
BTW, Trout is on pace to become the first 50 HR, 30 steals player ever, (53HR, 35Steals)
He is also on pace for the greatest WAR season ever, at 14.7. Compared the Ruth, 14.1 in 1923.

CS, I appreciate the updates on Trout and MLB by you and other CF posters. Baseball is the second "white friendliest" of the four major sports, but I just haven't followed it for several years now other than the World Series. I went a long time without seeing any games in person, and when I did I was disappointed by how the teams (and the TV networks) try to turn it into something it's not. Baseball is a slow paced game, still is, but is now without much of the traditional strategies and fundamentals that defined it for most of its history. Still worth following because of the many White stars, so maybe my interest will return one of these days. I know when I played fantasy baseball I stayed on top of the players and teams, maybe that's what it will take.
 

Carolina Speed

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CS, I appreciate the updates on Trout and MLB by you and other CF posters. Baseball is the second "white friendliest" of the four major sports, but I just haven't followed it for several years now other than the World Series. I went a long time without seeing any games in person, and when I did I was disappointed by how the teams (and the TV networks) try to turn it into something it's not. Baseball is a slow paced game, still is, but is now without much of the traditional strategies and fundamentals that defined it for most of its history. Still worth following because of the many White stars, so maybe my interest will return one of these days. I know when I played fantasy baseball I stayed on top of the players and teams, maybe that's what it will take.
You're welcome Don. I wish I could do more. I have been so blessed lately. Busy with Faith, family and work. I just haven't been able to contribute as often. I just hope others will keep pulling the slack.
There are so many young talented white players, but the injury bug has gotten many again this year. Daniel Murphy, Adam Eaton, Cory Seager, Bumgarner, and Kershaw. Just to name a few. Hoping Trout remains healthy for the rest of the season!
 

Freethinker

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Don / CS, I watch a good amount of baseball and I follow it at a very high level due to a competitive fantasy baseball league I’ve been a part of for the last 10 years or so. I’d say that a big factor not yet mentioned for the high strikeout numbers is very good and highly specialized pitching.

So many guys easily throw in the mid to high 90s to go with nasty offspeed and breaking ball offerings. In decades past it was mainly starters with top flight stuff but now there are so many talented middle relievers too. Many teams just ask the starter to go all out for 5 or 6 innings and then bring on one nasty, hard throwing reliever after another. Managers also mix and match righties and lefties. The newest fad now are middle relievers who have shutdown stuff that go multiple innings. Andrew Miller, Chad Green and Josh Hader are a few of the best.

I think the prevalence of all the infield shifting is also having an effect. Many guys have countless “singles in the hole” turned to routine groundouts so I’d imagine the “swing for the fences” mentality appeals to some. There is also more focus on “launch angle” in a effort to hit more fly balls. A lot of factors going on here.

I think eventually young hitters will adjust to some of these factors stacked against them and focus on hitting opposite field, bunting to beat the shift, etc but it'll take some time to trickle down. These guys at the pro level are old dogs who won’t learn new tricks.
 
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And it looks like Trout hit his HR off Cole Hamels, who adopted a moon cricket. And now all their rich neighbors in their nice white neighborhood have to pretend that they're not disgusted by it and that it's perfectly normal to have a black kid running around the neighborhood. But lucky for them it's not a male that would go around raping and wilding.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Cole-Hamels-Adoption-Journey-to-Africa-371235531.html

Cole Hamels and his wife, Heidi, traveled to Ethiopia to adopt their daughter three years ago. (Published Monday, March 7, 2016)
"It was just kind of crazy," Hamels remembers. "I was like, 'I can’t believe that’s my daughter.'"
A dream planned out almost a decade before was now being realized in a courthouse in the middle of Ethiopia.
"I think she was hesitant to tell me at first," Cole says of his wife, Heidi, who competed on "Survivor: The Amazon" and revealed when the couple was dating her hopes to someday adopt internationally. "I was completely into it. It was something that I never thought about, because my focus was in a million other directions.
 
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